Sol Kaplan

Sol Kaplan (April 9, 1919 – November 14, 1990) was a prolific film and television music composer. Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Kaplan worked as a successful concert pianist, including performing at Carnegie Hall. That same year, in 1941, Kaplan composed his first film score. He went on to write music for dozens of films including the 1953 films Titanic and Niagara. His film career was disrupted during the 1950s when he was blacklisted afte... more

Sol Kaplan (April 9, 1919 – November 14, 1990) was a prolific film and television music composer. Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Kaplan worked as a successful concert pianist, including performing at Carnegie Hall. That same year, in 1941, Kaplan composed his first film score. He went on to write music for dozens of films including the 1953 films Titanic and Niagara. His film career was disrupted during the 1950s when he was blacklisted after being uncooperative in testimony before the House Committee on Un-American Activities. For Star Trek, Kaplan scored two episodes, "The Enemy Within" and "The Doomsday Machine". Jeff Bond notes, "Although he wrote only two scores for the series, New York composer Sol Kaplan's music was tracked endlessly throughout the show's first two seasons." Kaplan was married to the actress Francis Heflin (sister of actor Van Heflin). Their son is the film director Jonathan Kaplan; they also had two daughters, Nora Heflin and Mady Kaplan Ahern. Sol Kaplan... less